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By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
The irreplaceable place of research and development in Nigeria’s quest to transit from a product to knowledge –driven economy has resonated in the North East, during a workshop held in Bauchi.
At a five – day workshop sponsored by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Tetfund) and hosted by Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi (ATBU), recently, the speakers stressed that the current sorry state of R&D in Nigeria is the bane of her development.
During The workshop which objective was to train participants from all the 32 tertiary institutions in the North East sub- region in the art and science of writing grant – winning research proposals, about 154 researchers attended the workshop.
At the opening ceremony held the at the Command Guest House, Bauchi, the Speakers emphasized the need for Nigerian researchers to shift from carrying out mere theoretical studies to problem – solving R&D that has commercial value.
The central theme resonated in the speeches of the Executive Secretary of Tetfund, Prof. Suleiman Elias Bogoro, the Vice –Chancellor of ATBU, Prof. Muhammad Ahmad Abdul – Azeez, Director General of the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), Dr. Danazumi Ibrahim Mohammed, Director of Research TETFund, Dr. Salihu Gerei and the Director of Research, Innovation and Development of ATBU, Prof Fatima B.J. Sawa.
Their various presentations hammered on the need for academics to stop working in silos and embrace the multi – disciplinary team approach based on the Triple Helix model.
According to a communique issued at the end of the workshop, signed by Dr. Andee Iheme, Chairman, Publicity Committee of the L.O.C, the model brought together the government, academia (researchers) and industry as critical stakeholders in the conduct of any meaningful research.
The participants were enjoined to use the workshop as a platform to network and forge sustainable collaborations at their individual and institutional levels for more productive works. While the DG, NOTAP, promised to facilitate any patents arising from their R&D efforts, the ES of Tetfund assured them of funding for successful proposals.
They also observed that proposals that attract favourable attention are those written by multi- disciplinary teams with credible and experienced Principal Investigators and warned that the days of one-man show were over. On budgeting, they stressed the need for their proposals to be realistic, transparent and cautioned that every kobo must be justified as well as encouraged the participants to look beyond Tetfund noting that outside the shores of Nigeria other global funding agencies exist.
In his remarks, the TETfund Director of Research, Dr. Salihu Gerei, lamented the poor showing of tertiary institution in the North East in accessing funding from TETFund placing the blame squarely on the unfundable research proposals emanating from the sub- region.
Out of the 217 proposals approved for funding recently by TETFund, he noted that only six came from the North East. A situation he described as unacceptable a feeling of disappointment was shared by the Director of Research, Innovation and Development, ATBU, Prof. Fatima B.J. Sawa.
She reiterated the reason for the workshop which was to equip researchers in the North East sub –region to measure up to expectation in attracting research grants to their institutions.
With the quality of the facilitators, she expressed optimism that no fewer than 150 well written and fundable research proposals from the participants of the workshop would be submitted to TETFund soon.
While seeking research collaborations with the institutions in the sub- region, Vice-Chancellor Abdulazeez of ATBU identified some of the major research facilities/activities in his institution.
These include a world – class Molecular Genetics and Infectious Disease Research Laboratory, installation of a Solar Hybrid Power Plant to ensure uninterrupted power supply for research activities, National Centre for Petroleum Research and Development, Dairy Research and Development Centre of Excellence and the World Bank Sponsored Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards Enhancement Project Centre of Excellence.
As a practical step towards internalising the outcomes of the Workshop, the 154 participants were divided into three major thematic groups covering Science and Technology, Arts and the Humanities and the Cross – cutting group.
The idea was for the different groups to generate fundable research proposals aimed at solving problems in the North East region of Nigeria which further split into 24 areas of concern in the sub- region, produced 22 concept notes which were critiqued not only by the six facilitators, but by a team of professional Assessors made up of Dr. Umar Sani Abdullahi, Dr. Fodio Longman and Dr. Shaibu Bala Garba.
The opening ceremony of the five- day workshop attracted the Emir of Bauchi, represented by the Galadiman Bauchi, Surveyor Saidu Jahun, Bauchi State Commissioner of Natural Resources, Alh Hon. Nuruddeen Abdulhamid and all the heads of the security agencies in Bauchi State.
Also in attendance were the Principal Officers of ATBU, including the DVC (Academics) Prof. Ibrahim Muhammed Danjuma, DVC (Admin) who chaired most of the sessions, Prof. I.H. Garba and the Registrar, Dr. A.G. Hassan.
It is expected that the reason for the workshop, which was the lack – lustre performance of the North – East researchers in attracting fundable research proposals has become a thing of the past. Armed with the relevant skills, the narrative is bound to change for the better in the North East.
Eminent scholars with track records of winning both local and international grants were assembled to facilitate the workshop. They include Prof. Wilfred Fon Mbacham from Cameroon, who spoke on “Paradigm Shift in Research and Development: Emerging Opportunities and Challenges” and “Scientific Diplomacy”, Prof. Ishiyaku Faguji – “Role of Research and Development in attaining the SDGs in Nigeria”, Prof. Oladele Akogun – “Sources of funding for Research , Innovation and Development Globally and in Nigeria”, Prof. Ganiyu S. Aderoumu – “Proposals that attract National and Global Funding”, Prof Umar Alhaji Pate (VC of Federal University of Kashere) – “ Proposal Format and Order of Presentation” and Prof. Suleiman D. Abdul – “Research Budgeting”. There was also a virtual presentation from an Alumnus of ATBU, Masduk Abdulkarim, who spoke on “Experiences in Developing Fundable Proposals.” Abdulkarim is the Programme Manager of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. One common thread that ran through all their insightful presentations was the need for research grant – seekers to adhere strictly to all the guidelines provided by the funding agencies.
